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Today marks the 9th anniversary of the creation of the Eastern Democratic Alliance. It was in the village of Antilla, overlooking the bay of the same name, where the Virgin of Charity of Cobre once appeared. Pardinas, Consuegra, Garcís, I am relating only names of people who had the beautiful idea of uniting, in one body, the efforts of pro-democratic forces in eastern Cuba.

It has been almost a decade of setbacks and fortune, but none greater than knowing we stuck with the common people. When in any corner of these places people look “to the human rights people” to file a complaint that the government doesn’t manage to solve, to ask for advice or material help, hence the effort of the Alliance has been worth it. It is the day to remember that woman have played an important role on this stretch of the road, Marta Diaz Rondon, Caridad Caballero Batista, Idalmis Nunez in Santiago de Cuba and women in Guantanamo, Las Tunas and Bayamo that drive every minute of the struggle.

Scattered throughout the world, many Alliance members … still considering it as theirs and support in the effort to bring it down, to them, too, Congratulations!

Congratulations to those who are now standing up under police persecution, arrests, beatings and the dungeon door every day while dreaming of freedom. Congratulations on keeping alive that bit of hope. Rolando Rodriguez Lobaina takes the reins today from Baracoa, that piece of Cuba that seems to emerge from the alligator, but that pushes hard toward the awaited day. Thanks to everyone and congratulations.